There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

Jim_Callahan:I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

I think it's only been that popular among the younger generations (mine and later), so the stereotype that games are for geeky teenage guys are still common.

Giltric:Boeheimian Rhapsody: Female gamers exist in the same world as unicorns and dinosaurs.

The best healers I have ever played with have been women.

There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

I was in a guild where it was one step worse. The main tank was the father, the raid leader/deeps was the son, and the main healer was the son's wife. My two friends convinced me to join the group since they could use a warlock. What a mistake. If one of the family couldn't raid, no one could. My 2 friends and I ended up getting kicked out of the guild because we decided to say fark it and did the raid with other people that week. When we finished it and were locked out for that week and the wife decided that she could indeed now raid, she threw a hissy fit at us that just spread to the leader and the tank.

I may or may not have called her a twat on a chat channel that was a little too public. I'm sure that didn't help...

Need a Dispenser Here:Giltric: Boeheimian Rhapsody: Female gamers exist in the same world as unicorns and dinosaurs.

The best healers I have ever played with have been women.

There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

I was in a guild where it was one step worse. The main tank was the father, the raid leader/deeps was the son, and the main healer was the son's wife. My two friends convinced me to join the group since they could use a warlock. What a mistake. If one of the family couldn't raid, no one could. My 2 friends and I ended up getting kicked out of the guild because we decided to say fark it and did the raid with other people that week. When we finished it and were locked out for that week and the wife decided that she could indeed now raid, she threw a hissy fit at us that just spread to the leader and the tank.

I may or may not have called her a twat on a chat channel that was a little too public. I'm sure that didn't help...

Ugh - that sucks. I raided for a while with a family but we were much more easygoing; if anyone couldn't raid due to lockout we found someone else or ran with alts to get around lockouts.

Jim_Callahan:I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

In their defense, MLG and spectator video gaming in general is sort of a new thing in the US. Sure, it's been around, but it's definitely enjoying some rapid growth right now.

Giltric:Boeheimian Rhapsody: Female gamers exist in the same world as unicorns and dinosaurs.

The best healers I have ever played with have been women.

There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

This. Any guy I've seen running around playing a healer is usually a bit odd(not the character, the guy at the controls). The exception, a healer tweaked out to kick ass more than heal/support, and games that include a Dwarven or Paladin sort of character which naturally mix in some kick-assery(or tank ability) by default.

Ditto on a couple leading a guild. It always felt dirty to me, because you know they did it in the fashion of making themselves royalty, and it certainly showed at times

/yeah, I've played a lot of various mmo's//Shadowbane was a favorite for sheer variety and balance..I think I'll go check out the private server project(it's been years "getting close" though..)

Giltric:There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

Studies are usually pretty restricted to WoW, and thus not really valid for "gamers" as a whole (many WoW players don't actually play games in general, just WoW).

Also, speaking as someone that usually got stuck playing the healer, that association of women with healers is... rather incredibly uncomplimentary, actually. It's kind of the role where you can set at most a couple targets and a few hotkeys and watch TV on another monitor while you do your part in the raid.

Giltric:Boeheimian Rhapsody: Female gamers exist in the same world as unicorns and dinosaurs.

The best healers I have ever played with have been women.

There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

That's not surprising really if you think about it. It solves the two biggest issues with MMO gaming

I've played since I was a little kid.Since I begged my dad to buy me a Nintendo LCD Donkey Kong, Jr.Since I blew through three weeks' allowance playing Defender at the laundromat.Since you were a twinge in the left side of your daddy's underoos.

I've been a gamer since I made friends with a girl in the 5th grade just to get at her Atari.Since I missed the bus playing Galaga after school.Since I missed the start of Return of the Jedi playing Tempest in the theater lobby.

You think you know. You don't know.

I've been a gamer since before you could read.Since I aced midterms after staying up all night playing Evil Tetris.Since I became dorm champ at Leisure Suit Larry.Since I double-wielded on Time Crisis 3 at Fuddrucker's.

I was a voice in not one, but two major video game titles.I hosted the Reach Beta tutorial.I was a Gears of War superfan panelist at ComicCon.I hosted the Ubisoft presser at E3 2012.I didn't do any of it for the money.For most I got paid next to nothing, and for some, less than that.

I did it because I love video games.Because I've dreamt since I was a kid of being in one of the games I love.How many games have you done voices for?How many cons have you repped at?Your buddy's Unreal Tournament garage deathmatch doesn't count.

I go to E3 each year because I love video games.Because new titles still get me high.Because I still love getting swag.Love wearing my gamer pride on my sleeve.People ask me what console I play.Motherfarker, ALL of them.

I get invited to E3 because real gamers know I'm a gamer.I don't do it for the money.I have plenty of money.I don't do it for the fame.fark fame.I do it because I love video games.

I don't give out my gamertag because I don't want a mess of noob jackholes lining upto assassinate me on XBL.I don't give a shiat what you think about my gamerscore.I don't play to prove a point.I don't play to be the best.I play because I love it.

I play.I've been playing my whole life.I'm not ashamed of it.I don't apologize for it.It's who I am.To the core.I'm a gamer.

So to all the haters out there who claim I don't play;To the GAF dicks,Gamespot trolls,To every illiterate racist douchebag on Youtube:Flame away. Go nuts.Post every jackass comment your heart desires.I'll still be playing when your mom's kicked you out of her basementand you have to sell your old-ass consoleand get a real job.

For now, I say to you respectfully,and I mean this from the bottom of my heart,GFYS.

Need a Dispenser Here:If one of the family couldn't raid, no one could. My 2 friends and I ended up getting kicked out of the guild because we decided to say fark it and did the raid with other people that week.

TFerWannaBe:Jim_Callahan: I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

I think it's only been that popular among the younger generations (mine and later), so the stereotype that games are for geeky teenage guys are still common.

I'd be curious as to what your generation is that you think invented playing video games.

My daughter loves to play Skyrim, although she plays it somewhat differently than I do. I look at my armor stats, and figure out which armor is the best, and wear that. Find better armor, wear it, sell the old armor. She keeps multiple outfits in her inventory, and changes her characters clothes depending upon the circumstances. Goes into town, puts on a nice outfit, Goes to a dungeon, and realizes she still wearing a dress and has to change clothes during combat...It's likes Barbies with swords for her.

Gergesa:omeganuepsilon: This. Any guy I've seen running around playing a healer is usually a bit odd(not the character, the guy at the controls).

I've known several healers, male and female. Haven't really noticed any significant difference. Not sure what the overall average is regarding this.

Some of what i'm talking about comes down to "Man, I can never get into groups/parties, so I HAD to make a healer" when the game perfectly supports solo non-healer play. In that case it's a kind of desperation.

In other cases, the guy is either way to serious in his role playing, or more or less actually has a creepy catholic priest persona.in my experience, the guy is the type to over-share invite himself along, or leech xp while you do all the work not even needing healing, or consistently ask people with competent characters to help him do the most long and boring and involved quests he's perfectly capable of doing himself.

I think personality has a lot to do with what kind of character people build, and while some healers can do well, many less than desirable people are drawn to that archetype because it enables them to carry over their attitudes into play.

Much the same way being a teacher or priest, by nature of the profession, will draw people who wish to take advantage of the situation along with people who are more honorable in their intent.

A construction worker or soldier doesn't necessarily have as high of a rate of that sort of thing.

meanmutton:TFerWannaBe: Jim_Callahan: I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

I think it's only been that popular among the younger generations (mine and later), so the stereotype that games are for geeky teenage guys are still common.

I'd be curious as to what your generation is that you think invented playing video games.

That may have come across more sarcastic than I wanted it to. To give you an idea of how long video games have been huge, in 1982, home-based video games had a total of $3.8 billion in revenue. That year, pop music had a total of $4 billion and Hollywood movies had a total of $3 billion in revenue. Arcade games were even more popular -- the arcade industry had $8 billion in revenue that year.

That was over 30 years ago. Even assuming that the were only "geeky teenage guys" playing them, they'd all be well into their 40s now.

Jim_Callahan:Giltric: There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

Studies are usually pretty restricted to WoW, and thus not really valid for "gamers" as a whole (many WoW players don't actually play games in general, just WoW).

Also, speaking as someone that usually got stuck playing the healer, that association of women with healers is... rather incredibly uncomplimentary, actually. It's kind of the role where you can set at most a couple targets and a few hotkeys and watch TV on another monitor while you do your part in the raid.

Don't you ever farking heal my raid.

Healing takes constant attention because the deeps always farking stand in the farking fire/poison/whatever. And the Tank always gets some burst damage from the mob which will kill him unless you're watching with your finger on the button.

/Plays WoW and many other games//Yes, I'm usually the healer///Yes, I'm a woman

LostInTO:My daughter loves to play Skyrim, although she plays it somewhat differently than I do. I look at my armor stats, and figure out which armor is the best, and wear that. Find better armor, wear it, sell the old armor. She keeps multiple outfits in her inventory, and changes her characters clothes depending upon the circumstances. Goes into town, puts on a nice outfit, Goes to a dungeon, and realizes she still wearing a dress and has to change clothes during combat...It's likes Barbies with swords for her.

I do that in Skyrim just so I can laugh at myself for playing like a kid. Wore the cooks outfit for the entire assassin's guild mission where you pretended to be a famous cook to assassinate the...well, no spoilers, but you get the idea.

Then again, I used to pen and paper role play, so getting into character can be fun, if ridiculous.

Jim_Callahan:Giltric: There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

Studies are usually pretty restricted to WoW, and thus not really valid for "gamers" as a whole (many WoW players don't actually play games in general, just WoW).

Also, speaking as someone that usually got stuck playing the healer, that association of women with healers is... rather incredibly uncomplimentary, actually. It's kind of the role where you can set at most a couple targets and a few hotkeys and watch TV on another monitor while you do your part in the raid.

yeah, i never played WoW (I gave up on mmorpgs back when ultima destroyed itself by splitting into a cupcake world and a player killer world back in the 90s). but, in regular multiplayer games, i don't see a gender correlation to healers. fark, i play healers in TF2 all the time. every team needs one (or more). if i join a server and there isn't one, i go healer. pretty simple. the choice is made for me. and, on the very rare occassion there are females playing, the are just as likely to play any other class. though, it seems soldier is the least likely... maybe women don't like rocket jumping or something.

Been running a WoW guild for about 7 years and I can attest to the notion that a lot of healers are women. We've had maybe 10 or 11 women from 18 to 40 in the guild throughout that time and all but 2 were healers. I've also had 2 healers in that time who are gay, idk if that counts too.

Pixiest:Jim_Callahan: Giltric: There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

Studies are usually pretty restricted to WoW, and thus not really valid for "gamers" as a whole (many WoW players don't actually play games in general, just WoW).

Also, speaking as someone that usually got stuck playing the healer, that association of women with healers is... rather incredibly uncomplimentary, actually. It's kind of the role where you can set at most a couple targets and a few hotkeys and watch TV on another monitor while you do your part in the raid.

Don't you ever farking heal my raid.

Healing takes constant attention because the deeps always farking stand in the farking fire/poison/whatever. And the Tank always gets some burst damage from the mob which will kill him unless you're watching with your finger on the button.

/Plays WoW and many other games//Yes, I'm usually the healer///Yes, I'm a woman

That's exactly the phenomenon I was talking about. If you're going to play, you should actually play the game, not be a leeching bastard.

omeganuepsilon:LostInTO: My daughter loves to play Skyrim, although she plays it somewhat differently than I do. I look at my armor stats, and figure out which armor is the best, and wear that. Find better armor, wear it, sell the old armor. She keeps multiple outfits in her inventory, and changes her characters clothes depending upon the circumstances. Goes into town, puts on a nice outfit, Goes to a dungeon, and realizes she still wearing a dress and has to change clothes during combat...It's likes Barbies with swords for her.

I do that in Skyrim just so I can laugh at myself for playing like a kid. Wore the cooks outfit for the entire assassin's guild mission where you pretended to be a famous cook to assassinate the...well, no spoilers, but you get the idea.

Then again, I used to pen and paper role play, so getting into character can be fun, if ridiculous.

yeah, i just pick the outfit and weapons that look the coolest. once your smithy/enchantment is high enough, there is very little difference between the armors. but, yeah, pen and paper play definitely infiltrates rpg game play. i always end up trying to be a good person. while, in regular action games, i just kill everything, even the friendly dogs.

Need a Dispenser Here:Giltric: Boeheimian Rhapsody: Female gamers exist in the same world as unicorns and dinosaurs.

The best healers I have ever played with have been women.

There was some sort of study done by a student that talked about how alot of guilds are run by husband/wife or bf/gf teams. The male usually taking the tank role and the woman almost always being the healer.

I was in a guild where it was one step worse. The main tank was the father, the raid leader/deeps was the son, and the main healer was the son's wife. My two friends convinced me to join the group since they could use a warlock. What a mistake. If one of the family couldn't raid, no one could. My 2 friends and I ended up getting kicked out of the guild because we decided to say fark it and did the raid with other people that week. When we finished it and were locked out for that week and the wife decided that she could indeed now raid, she threw a hissy fit at us that just spread to the leader and the tank.

I may or may not have called her a twat on a chat channel that was a little too public. I'm sure that didn't help...

Hah that sounds like a former guild of mine, and I was the Warlock to boot.

Healing takes constant attention because the deeps always farking stand in the farking fire/poison/whatever. And the Tank always gets some burst damage from the mob which will kill him unless you're watching with your finger on the button.

/Plays WoW and many other games//Yes, I'm usually the healer///Yes, I'm a woman

You. I like you. Another woman healer here; I do it because I'm a contentious asshole that likes to have an excuse to drink. I mentored my first healer with two other healers (dudes) in Burning Crusade and somewhere in there, I learned the most valuable piece of wisdom that carries me and my contentiousness to this day: As a healer, the boss of any fight isn't the giant farking thing the team is whaling on, it's your own farking raid.

I love healing, I genuinely do. I've tanked, I've DPS'd, I always go back to healing. On a good fight, there's nothing more complicated and it's always the healers cleaning up your shiat.

LostInTO:My daughter loves to play Skyrim, although she plays it somewhat differently than I do. I look at my armor stats, and figure out which armor is the best, and wear that. Find better armor, wear it, sell the old armor. She keeps multiple outfits in her inventory, and changes her characters clothes depending upon the circumstances. Goes into town, puts on a nice outfit, Goes to a dungeon, and realizes she still wearing a dress and has to change clothes during combat...It's likes Barbies with swords for her.

Huh... that's how I play Skyrim. Never thought of it as Barbies though.... :S

I actually cut my teeth MT healing. My first toon was a Paladin and little did the description boast that the only end game content YOU were going to see was a bunch of stamina bars going up and down as you frantically smashed 'flash of light' and hoped your mana per 5 was sufficient.

The plus side was that there was little AOE damage back in the day so i didnt get yelled at when the DPS died. They shouldnt have been taking damage standing in void zones like retards. Wasnt til late BC that i started tanking and the formidable healing duo that was my wife and I took a more interesting turn.

meanmutton:meanmutton: TFerWannaBe: Jim_Callahan: I'm more confused by the phrase "the video game craze". I'm pretty sure that when something's been going on for half a century and had popularity on par with movies for three decades that that phrase doesn't really apply anymore. No one talks about the CD craze or the internet craze or the "rock and roll" craze.

I think it's only been that popular among the younger generations (mine and later), so the stereotype that games are for geeky teenage guys are still common.

I'd be curious as to what your generation is that you think invented playing video games.

That may have come across more sarcastic than I wanted it to. To give you an idea of how long video games have been huge, in 1982, home-based video games had a total of $3.8 billion in revenue. That year, pop music had a total of $4 billion and Hollywood movies had a total of $3 billion in revenue. Arcade games were even more popular -- the arcade industry had $8 billion in revenue that year.

That was over 30 years ago. Even assuming that the were only "geeky teenage guys" playing them, they'd all be well into their 40s now.

Think of how many decades it took for popular media to grasp the concept that comic books may not be just for kids.